The Sun. — London, England, 1864-02-04 00:00:00

Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Assurance Association, ANNUAL MEETING. ;.'he twenty-third annual meeting of the members of the Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Assurance Association was held last night at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. Henry Richard Jones, Esq., chairman of the board of directors, presided. The annual report of the transactions of the last year was read by the secretary, Mr. H. T. Linford, as follows : "The board have much pleasure in presenting to the members of the association their twenty-third annual re port, and are again able to repeat the congratulatory expres sions happily familiar for many years past. The successful progress of the association is still further increased, the new assurances being £lO,OOO in excess of those effected in 1862, which it will be remembered were considerably beyond those of any previous year. The policies completed during the past year were 1,005,' for £214,785 ; in addition to which 115, for £37,115, were declined or withdrawn, or now await ing completion, making the total proposals received during the year 1,120, for £251,900 ; the annual income arising from the completed policies is £6,420. The distribution of the bonus announced at the last annual meeting has given the warmest satisfaction to the members, and hav ing been made widely known, is doubtless the source from whence some portion of the new business has been derived. It is very gratifying to the board to state, on the authority of their able actuary, that the bonus thus distributed arises -wholly from realised profits, and that the surplus of future years has not been in the slightest degree anticipated. The actual cash profit thus realised very closely approached £30,000, and was equivalent to a reversionary _bonus of £60,004. The income of the past year was £59,750 105 9d, and after payment of all claims and expenses, and of £10,411 13s sd, in cash bonuses, the assets of the asso ciation are increased by £24,166 Os 6d. The total assets now amount to £221,576 Ils 10d. The claims by death are still moderate, both in number and amount. 76 policies, assuring with bonuses the sum of £13,048 15s al, have fallen in during the year, making the total thus paid since the commencement of the association £126,126 5s 7d. It needs but a moment's reflection on the channels in which this sum has been divided to appreciate in some degree the benefits conferred by this association. The total policies in force on the 31st December last were 2,330, for £1,613,092. The directors retiring by rotation on the present occasion era Mr. Richard Henry Jones, Mr. John White Welch, Mr. John Sttzddy Leigh, all of whom, being eligible, offer themselve for re-election. The fol lowing gentlemen, duly qualified, have been pro posed as auditors :—Mr. James Richard Lloyd, Mr. Francis Frederick Toole, Mr. Charles Wooley. The board feel that, in the face of such figures as it is their pleasing duty to lay before the members, comment is superfluous. The position which the Provident Clerks' Association has attained amongst the soundest and most successful life offices is evident and unquestioned. The efforts of the board to promote to the utmost the future prosperity of this important institution will not be wanting, and they look with confidence to the cordial and energetic support of the members to second those efforts, and thereby insure their continued success." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report just read to the meeting, said he had to con gratulate them for the 23d time upon the increas ing prosperity of their association. (Hear, hear.) When he looked back upon the first occasion of his meeting them, when their annual income was something between £4OO or £5OO, and then com pared it with the amount they were now receiving annually, which was somewhere about £60,000, the reflection on the amount of good they had done daring that period was a source of much satisfaction and comfort to himself personally, and he felt cer tain it would also evoke the same pleasurable feeling among the whole of the members of the association. There was an observation in the report, viz., that comment was superfluous ; yet he thought that a few observations from him would prove acceptable. On the last occasion the directors were enabled— as, indeed, they had done on ail former occasions— to congratulate the members on the great increase of new business, and on the present occasion he had to repeat the same information, but in much si.ronger terms. (Hear, hear.) To show the gra dual and successful progress the best means would be to refer to figures having reference to past years. In 1859 their annual income was £34,381 ; in 1860, £41,221 ; in 1361, £45,657 ; in 1862, £50,135; and in 1863, £59,750. That he considered was the best proof he could give them of the stability of their affairs. (Hear, hear.) The Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Association was now one of the most firmly-established institutions in the country, and one of the circumstances that had placed it in that proud position was, that every person engaged in promoting its interests was animated with the most hearty desire of doing so. (Hear, hear.) That they might have no fear for the future, he would put another set of figures before them. Their invested fund in 1859 amounted to £124,078 ; in 1860, £146,000 ; in 1861, £169,686 ; in 1862, £197,400; and in 1863, £22l,s9s—(hear, hear)—showing an increase in five years of L 97,517, besides £lO,OOO paid in cash bonus. (Hear, hear.) As reqards the balance-sheet, he thought that also would occasion great satisfaction, Their new pre raiums had increased, and, although 1862 had been considered an extraordinarily successful year, yet .during the past twelve months they had exceeded the business done that year by £lO,OOO. (Hear.) There was, in fact, nothing but mutual congratulation, and therefore he felt certain the members would feel perfectly satisfied with what had been done. Their percentage of expenses had been reduced from 12 to 91, and that circumstance also proved they were going in the right direction. Thera was one item in the balance sheet which had been put down as an asset on Dec. 31 of £l,OOO. No doubt many gentlemen present bad read the result of a trial before the Vice-Chancellor, in which this company was immediately concerned. Of course the: directors had no wish to be driven into law, but they believed their claim to be perfectly just, and under the strong advice of counsel they had determined to carry the cause before a higher Court, He hoped, under these circumstances that gentlemen would refrain from making an y observations on this matter as the sub ject was sub judice. But in the course of th© proceedings two ugly expressions were used which he did not like—namely, the terms fraud and concealment. Now he hoped that no one present would think that such terms applied to him. He felt that throughout his life he had maintained a character on which he would defy any one to find a blot. (Loud cheers.) Indivi aually or collectively the board were incapable of fraud or concealment. An unintentional error might have been committed, but they had every belief that the justice and bona fides of their conduct would be established. (Load cheers.) It was true, however, that the counsel for the Reliance Company disavowed any intention to impute fraud, and the Vice Chancellor stated it was only the legal phraseology of the court. He could not but regret the terms had ever been used. It was monstrous to suppose that so large a business as theirs could be carried on in any other but the most fair and open manner. (Hear, hear.) He would pass over all further allusion to the matter, but on a future occasion full particulars would be given to the members, if requisite (Hear.) Before ho resumed his seat ho thought it would afford some additional satisfaction if he announced that since the tat of January they had completed 148 policies for sums amounting in the whole to £31,900, so they would see they had begun the rew year well. He would conclude his observa tions by formally moving the adoption of the re port, but before it was carried he should have great pleasure in answering any questions that might be put to him. TOMKINS remarked that the balance sheet, on the whole, was extremely satisfactory. (Hear, hear,) He saw one item, viz., " Law charges, £l2 ls. 6d." He presumed that did not refer to the matter alluded to by the chairman. The SECRETARY said certainly not. They had not said 11 ny, neith er di d they know they wou ld h ave to pay any, so they could not put it into the balance sheet then before the rOOCIing. Mr. T olixlNs asked if any idea could be given of the probable cost of the affair. ',-;`,..N'll'hre. TSEocat_E:r_a_a_v_repenlie,d that would be an i m p oss ibilit y . evelythin ;: i ir be a m as . soon as the matter is decid e d untcated to the mem b ers ? The CHAIRMAN— yO4 adoption of th e report was then ertainly. carried . The motion for th e Mr. REYNO L n a sa id i t was his unanimously. privilege, as it had besn On several OCCaSiOIIS, to move a votet of thank s t o t h e direc tors for the able manner in which a h s a stock year. affairs of the association during ig vr h a ppiest moment of my lif e " The phrase with many speakers, but , as far as their respectecdkciairman was concerned, the happiest moments of hi s lif e Were the first Wednesday in every now month of February. (Laughter and cheers). Ire would not attempt to heighten the grati cation they all experienced at their annual meeting 1 3 , an ill-timed and absurd flattery, but he ra th er preferred leaving his resolution in tho hands of the members, in the firm conviction that it would give the utmost gratification to all present to acknowledge the able services of their directors. (Cheers ) Mr. Fxr had very much pleasure in seconding tilos reso lution, and at the same time he must say, he cordially adopted the sentiments expressed by Mr. Reynolds. They were all pleased with the report, and satisfied with their directors. (Hear, hear.) The board was ably seconded by their secretary, Mr. Linford, and an efficient staff, and aided by their united efforts nothing but success c0,..u.d follow, (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried enthusiastically. The CHAIRMAN, on the part of himself and colleagues, returned thanks. He was going to say it wculd stimulate him to farther exertions, but he just recollects d that he was out of office as chairman. (Laughter.) Mr. J. W. WELCH said that would be for a very short time. He thought their great prosperity was mainly owing to the unanimity that prevailed amongst the directors ; in fact, it might be called a board of harmony, over which the chairman wielded his baton, so as to ensure the highest admiration. He had much pleasure in moving that Richd. Henry Jones, Esq., be re-elected director of the asso ciation. Mr, PRICE seconded the motion, which was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr. JONES, in resuming the chair, said his re-election had followed so sharply upon his retirement that he c*uld scarcely recollect the temporary circumstance. (Laughter.) He begged most sincerely to thank them for the compli ment, One good turn certainly deserved another—(laughter) —therefore be had great pleasure in moving the re-election of his excellent friend, Mr. John White Welch. (Hear, hear.) The motion, having been seconded, was carried unani. mously Mr. WELCH said he was exceedingly pleased with the hearty manner in which he had been re-elected. He con sidered it a strong mark of confidence iu the board; and one of the most important circumstances that could exist in a life assurance office was, that the utmost con fidence should exist between the executive board and the whole of the members. Nothing should ever be allowed to arise to disturb an arrangement once made by a husband or a father to provide for those near and dear to him; nor should any mere technical objection be urged against an honest and bona fide claim. Nothing was more important than that in a mutual office there should be mutual co-operation. (Hear, hear.) The increase of business had been highly satisfactory, but he must award a portion of that success to the admirable pamphlet their able secretary had found time to write and circulate. He was certain many had been induced to insure their lives in consequence of it. Mr. Lin ford was the author of sending the book out and therefore he was entitled to the credit. Mr. J. S. Leigh was also re-elected a director. The retiring auditors having been re-elected, Mr. F. TOOLE returned thanks, but at the same time he must bear testimony to the efficiency of their staff, They were all gentlemen animated with one desire. (Hear, hear.) He could not refrain from paying his tribute to their excel lent secretary for the good he had done by the publication of his pamphlet. He had experienced the greatest pleasure in its perusal, and he had no doubt every person who had read these tiny pages had experienced the same gratification, He therefore had the greatest pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to their talented secretary and their staff. Mr. 'MINTON seconded the motion. The CHAIRMAN said Mr. Toole had but anticipated him in moving a vote of thanks to the staff, As he was pre cluded from seconding the motion he would third it. (Laughter.) The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. LINYORD, in returning thanks, said he felt very gratified at the manner in which this resolution had been received,'especially at the kind remarks of the chairman and deputy-chairman. This was the tenth year he had had the honour of receiving these flattering marks of their approval, and on behalf of the gentlemen associated with him he had much pleasure in saying that he believed they had a most able and efficient body of officers, each of whom did his best for the association wherever he might be. He was glad to have the opportunity of saying this on their behalf. Mr. Linford then adverted to the numerous life offices which had disappeared, saying that although 290 offices had been established since 1844 no less than 268 had " come to grief," in one way or another. The real increase in 20 years being only 22 offices. It was a source of great satisfaction to him to see that while so manywere going down the Provident Clerks office was constantly and steadily going up, and it must continue to do so. No office in England, he believed, had before it a more solid and enduring future. Its funds were so ample, and its risks so widely and equally distributed, that nothing in the ordinary course of nature could disturb its claim account. (Cheers.) Mr. Linford then referred in very kind terms to the actuary, Mr. Ratray, who was absent for the first time, and whose illness he, in common with all, much regretted. They had experienced so much kindness and benefited so much by Mr. Ratray's care and attention that he could not refrain from saying these few words expressive of their feeling towards him, and their hope that they might soon see him back among them in health and strength. (Cheers.) Mr, LLOYD rose to propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and in doing so, he also expressed his acknow ledgments for his own re-election as Auditor. He said if every member could see as he did, the way in which the office was worked, the energy in every department, and the terms on which the directors and the staff were, they would see with him that their affairs were well and ably managed. He regretted that the Chairman should have thought it necessary to say one word as to the honesty of purpose and good' faith of the board. No one who knew them would believe they could be guilty of a fraudulent or unfair transac • lion. He thought the very fact that:the other office refused to abide the result of an open trial at law, and applied to Chancery for relief on a technical point, showed how weak was their case. Ho was much pleased to hear the facts stated by the Secretary. The provident clerks of this country were a large and intelligent body. He had always said they would found a great office, and they had done so. 11 any proof of the good management of the office were wanting, let them look at the investments so large and so well placed. He was sure they would feel the same pleasure as himself in giving the chair man a hearty vote of thanks. The motion having been seconded, was carried with acclamation. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, urging upon the mem bers the advantages that would accrue if each would exert himself to bring only one member during the year. He would like to get a pledge to that effect from all present. (cheers.) The meeting then broke up, members appearing greatly pleased at the favourable statements laid before them. COTTON SUPPLY ASSOCIATION. At the usual weekly meeting of the executive committee, held on Tuesday, Feb. 2, a letter was read from St. Croix, West Indies, stating that the writer has 600 acres of first rate land which he is placing as rapidly as possible under cotton. He expects to obtain from the first 10 acres planted in September with Sea Island seed, about 3,5001 b. of cotton. He is confident that there is no place better fitted for the cul tivation of cotton, nor where it could be more easily carried on. A letter was received from the honorary agents of the association of Calcutta, reporting that the accounts received of the present year's crop continue to be satisfactory, that a largely extended area has been placed under cultivation, and that a considerable increase is expected, Cotton is now arriv ing at market more freely, and large quantities will shortly come forward. Some improvements both in quality and con dition is observable, and this is likely to become still more manifest. The extreme monetary pressure now experienced has had the effect of bringing trade in general to a dead- lock. Suitable cotton-cleaning machines, combining cheapness with utility, are still needed. None of the many descriptions already sent have been found equal to the requirements of the country. The Calcutta Exhibition is expected to be most useful both:as regards gins and agricultural implements. Of ploughs, it is said, the most simple and at the same time most servicable yet seen is one made after the native style,with im proved shares and coulter, &c., coating about 16rs. complete, and easily worked with two bullocks. Reports were enclosed from the recipients of seed sent out by the association, and samples of cotton grown from Egyptian seed in the Midna pore district will bo forwarded. A despatch from her Majesty's Minister at Tangier, dated January 12, received from the Foreign-office, was read, atating that the quantity of cotton grown last year was about 700 bales, which were sent to Morocco and other towns of the interior, where it is employed in native manufactures. The high price realised has encouraged the cultivation of cotton throughout the districts where water-wheels can be employed for irrigation, and it is :expected that the crop this year will produce 12,000 bales. The southern provinces have been without rain since the spring of last year-80 per cent, of the cattle have died, and grain is at famiLe prices. The Sultan has directed the governors o: the southern provinces to encou rage the cultivati'.:a of cotton, and in a fe w y ears, w h en t h e unfortunat'.., consequences produced by the drought are re move., it will be grown on a large scale. As the quality is 'nusually fine, the cotton of Morocco may become a very important article of export to England. A letter was re ceived from Malta stating that the Exhibition is about to be held which was likely to be of service in promoting the growth of cotton in that island, and that as the only most primitive means of cleaning the cotton, and the old bow apparatus, are in use among the Maltese, some simple hand gins would be most useful. The census just published shows an increase in the population since 1851 of 10,000, the present being 131,055, or 1,281 to the square mile. It was resolved to send two hand gins to the Exhibition to be offered as prizes. Several samples of Natal cotton was submitted for examination, and valued at 24d., 27d., and 38d. to 40d. respectively, Various applications for seed were received and granted: The last week's raitway receipts, ascertained up to this day, are, in round figures, as under : 1864. 1863. Great Western £57, 9 59 £52,051 North-Western South-Weste rn Brighton 14,621 14,938 Midland South-Eastern Lancashire and Yorkshire Bristol and Exeter ...... 5 , 43 7 5,277 North-Eastern 51,577 46,515 Great Eastern Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 16,798 14,318 About C 72.1100 in gold waa taken into the tank yesterday. LORD CAMPBELL AT MANCHESTER, On Thursday evening a public meeting took place in the Town Hall, Manchester, on the Polish question, and drew a crowded audience. The chair was taken by the late Mayor, Mr. Alderman Heywood, at half-past 7 o'clock. On the first resolution, viz., " That the past and present struggles of the Poles entitle them to the support and ad- , miration of Great Britain," Lord Campbell, who had been invited to attend, said—Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentle men—After the eloquent and ample way in which the resolution has been presented by the mover and seconder, you will not require many words from me in its support ; but you will make allowance for the difficulty which a per fect stranger naturally feels when for the first time he comes before a large and crowded audience of your city. (Cheers.) Great as is the pleasure with which I see that audience, as a measure of the sympathy with Poland and of the zeal in her behalf prevailing in this district, it is fair to aver that neither I, nor those who have acted with me on the Polish question, had any part in calling it together. On the con trary, I even ventured to dissuade those with whom it has originated from their effort. My impression was—as older and wiser men had frequently explained to me—that the people of the country would not grant their ear and their attention to two points of foreign policy or even of domestic policy together ; that while Denmark was an object of solicitude, Poland must be for the time forgotten and un interesting ; and that by making an appeal on Poland at this moment we should only court—although the deep convictions of the public were unaltered—apparent cold ness and ostensible discouragement which might be rather dangerous than conducive to our purpose, Your presence here to-night, the spirit you have shown, and the addresses you have listened to, no doubt refutes that calculation. (Cheers.) Although many might have questioned and de nied the possibility of agitation on the Polish question at this moment—if it were only possible —no friends of that cause could question its advantage in the very crisis which to some extent pre-occupies us. The use and the effect of agitation is not when a public duty is in the heart and on the lips of every man in the community, but when it ceases to be felt, and when it ceases to be talked of—although it is net less imperative and cogent than it used to be. (Cheers.) Agitation becomes a lesson when it cannot any longer be regarded as an echo. And this should also be remembered —although an interval may take place in the excitement of Great Britain as to Poland—there is not any interval what ever in the tragedy which prompted it. For all that, if any thing its colours are more dark, its march is more appalling. Forget it as we may, intent upon the Eider, its champions, the ill-armed insurgents, keep at bay the well-drilled forces of St. Petersburg ; exposed to every hardship and vicissi tude, they still engage in combats with success. The secret Government, relying on the confidence of millions, cripples the material authority, and open power of the Czar— still lawless executions are going on, and still peaceful habitations are demolished ; still villages are burnt ; still Poland moves towards Siberia. The drama hurries on, although another question has diverted our attention from it. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is far from my desire to op pose the zeal which now exists in reference to Denmark. But if you glance a moment at that subject, you will see that so far from clashing with, it bears an intimate relation to, the matter now before us. Irrespectively of treaties and engagements, why is it essential to uphold the monarchy of Denmark ? Because if it disappears, Kiel is nearly cer tain to become a Russian harbour. But why is it danger ous to let Kiel become a Russian harbour ? Because if it did, it would really give the Czar a new position on the Baltic, since he has long been able to regard a Prussian harbour as his own. But how comes it that the Prussian harbours are his own, and that the King of Prussia is his vassal ? Because he reigns at Warsaw, and there reigning is able to command the fleet and to cover the policy of Berlin. Against that state of things the Polish movement is directed. (Cheers.) And in proportion as the movement triumphs the Danish question ceases to be anxious to our selves. But in another point of view the Danish and the Polish difficulties are connected, whilst its large and funda mental principle which makes the whole world, except its in terested adversaries, eager and united in the cause of Danish independence ? It is that all free countries are eadangered when one free country disappears. (Cheers.) It is that Europe suffers when the humblest member of her system becomes the victim ot injustice. And what but the dismemberment of Poland has made that truth familiar to mankind. And if it bears on Denmark, with how much greater force does it apply to a country beyond France in area, beyond Spain in population, beyond either in its former services to Europe. If Denmark ought not to be suppressed, Poland ought to be, if possible, recovered. But there is yet a further point of union in the ques tions, If any man has given his reflection to the Danish question he has come to this conclusion, that but one combination can resolve it with advantage, viz., that of France, of Austria, and Great Britain, all three having a demonstrable interest in saving Denmark from encroachment, and having strength enough to guard it against the dangers which existed. But this is the very combination by which the hopes of Poland have been raised, and by which alone its prospects can be materially brightened. So ear, therefore, from the two questions being opposed, the two causes incompatible, the existence cf the one occasions the importance of the uther ; the same foun dation underlies them; the same union is required to close their sorrow and perplexity. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, the chairman expressed a wish that those who might address you would point out briefly and distinctly how at the pre sent moment the Polish question stands, and what kind of duty it imposes on this country. With your leave I will respond to his appeal so far as I am able. It cannot be supposed by any one at present that war for Poland is de manded or attainable, France and Great Britain having more urgent and immediate calls upon their policy. But whether wisely or unwisely, whether justly or unjustly, in the spring of 1863 this country by the Foreign-office entered on a course of spirited diplomacy as regards the Polish insurrection. Not only did we remonstrate our selves, but nearly the whole of Europe was arrayed by our initiative in one common language of remonstrance with St Petersburg. Except Russia the greater and the lesser Powers, led by our example and our influence, became con verted into eager and unaccustomed advocates of Poland against Russia. So new was the phenomenon that the Czar at first appeared to feel the moral weight which from every quarter of the world was rolling steadily upon him. Encouraged by his attitude, the Powers went on and made six propositions in the interest of Poland, which he, after full reflection, ignominiously rejected. New expostulations were brought to bear upon him—new scorn was flung on the expostulating Powers. At the close of September the Foreign Secretary delivered an address in Scotland, which reached the capitals of Europe, and declared that the Czar, having set at naught the Treaty of Vienna, had forfeited the titles by which Poland formed a par:, of his dominions. The greatest expectation followed as to the further conduct of Great Britain. In a month a despatch appeared, which did not touch Open the violation of the treaty or the forfeiture of Poland, but complimented the Caar on his benevolent intentions to the country he is lay ing waste, and to the people he Is trying to exterminate. The Foreign-office may have had unknown reasons for the tone which they adopted, It may not be without defence. But can it be accented ae the 11 nal attitude and last deli verance of England on the subject ? Can it be accepted as the crowning measure of our spirited diplomacy ? (Cheers.) A more becoming exit is attainable. The Polish Govern ment have made two demaads on Europe, neither of which involves in war the Powers which concede it, and neither of which as yet Great Britain has conceded, and neither of which she will concede until Parliament has stimulated the Executive, and been itself awakened by the people. (Cheers.) The proceedings of to-night, therefore, are practical and hnainess 'like in character. And this conside ration ought to lead us to promote a more honourable end of the coarse on which we entered in the spring with so much ardour. As yet the part adopted by Great Britain towards P oland has not been of a kind to raise her credit or to satisfy her conscience. When in 1772, after a long course of anarchy which Russia had fomented, the first partition was designed by the nefarious alliance of St. Petersburg, Berlin, and Vienna, and when Poland was robbed of territories which public law, which treaty, and immemorial possession had secured to her, no voice of protest issued from Great Britain When, with astounding guilt, in 1793, a new partition was designed to put an end to the nobly amended constitution Poland had resolved on, Great Britain was still silent. When elated by impunity in 1795 the crime passed on to its maturity, and the three despots, with unparalleled auda city, proclaimed that Poland no longer existed on the map of Europe, Great Britain was immovable. It is true that that in 1815 Great Britain, at Vienna, accorded her opinion that Polish independence was essential to the safety of the world, but did nothing to restore it. It is true that in 1816 she deplored the fall of Cracow, but never took a single measure to avert it. By some the present struggle is re garded as a hopeless one. If it be hopeless, if it is only blood and heroism expended in the self-assertion of a gallant nation against the authors of its downfall ; if fortunes are abandoned, houses left, the gibbet hazarded, the dungeon braved, merely to convince the world that Poland lives and struggles in the tomb to which she was consigned by the rapacity of some and by the indolence of others, to that tomb let it be never said that British honour has descended. (Loud cheers.) But the struggle will not be eventually a hopeless one; if retribution waits on crime, discomfiture on barbarities, ascendancy on truth, or dawning daylight upon freedom, it will not cease to live and to aspire while justice reigns in Heaven and policy in Europe. (Much applause.) The Chairman proceeded to put the resolution, which was unanimously carried. The second resolutionnhat belligerent rights ought to be granted to the Poles, was supported by Mr. Beales with his usual eloquence and power. On Friday evening, at half-past seven, a soiree was held in the large room of the Clarence Hotel, by the Southern Independence Association for Lancashire, of which Lord Wherncliffe is the chairman. By eight o'clock some two or three hundred of its friends had assembled, including Mr. Jas. Spence, of Liverpool. Lord Wharncliffe occupied the chair, and called on Lord Campbell to address them' Lord Campbell said that, having two or three times in Par liament adverted to this subject, to him it was most gratify ing to see to-night a proof that in Lancashire the current of opinion was not opposed to Southern independence. Mr. Spence, at whose instigation he had come, and under whose orders he addressed them, had told him that argumentative remarks upon the question were now superfluous in Men chester. No doubt most of those who are here present ad mit that Southern independence wit be more for the advan tage of the world than Southern subjugation ; that Southern independence, according to the past experience of history, will never be permitted to establish ,tself, all neutral powers have acknowledged it ; that other neutral Powers are not likely to acknowledge it, while the negative example of Great Britain tends to chill and to restrain them. (Cheers.) And these are the few and the simple propositions to which, in other place; argument is applicable. The object, as I understand, of your association is to keep up or to create a general opinion by which the counsels of the Government may gradually be penetrated, and that first step secured without which the civil war can never have the happy termination you desire for it. (Cheers.) There has not been a moment when you could less afford to relax your efforts and your vigilance. In the first place, for the time, Europe throws America into the background. Beyond that calamities have happened to Southern arms in Ten nessee, at Vicksburg, and Port Budson. The democratic party which once augured peace and,separation, is no longer active as it used to be. A severe strain has fallen on Con federate resources. Its finances appear to stagger. In Stonewall Jackson they have lost a General who cannot be replaced to them. (Cheers.) Our own Government ap pears to be divided in its sympathies. The Emperor of the French is more than usually preoccupied. These are mo tives to exertion, and but for one circumstance, they might be causes of despondency. What is that circumstance? That the Confederacy itself is neither daunted or affected by them. (Cheers.) That at no former time were their armies better organised, their strategy more cool, their executive more firm, their people more united—(cheers)—while they themselves are undismayed by the reality, their friends in Europe cannot be dejected by the reflex. (Cheers.) Gen tlemen, as we are all agreed about tee object, I ask leave for a moment to consider that point, what is the greatest difficulty you are called upon to deal with in your efforts to establish the opinion which appears to you the just one. It seems to me, glancing at the different views which have prevailed, to relate to the subject of the negro and of slavery. If that subject were disposed of, there would not perhaps be any lack of enanimity as regards the line to be pursued among the people of this country. Delu sions upon this point have been industriously scattered, and yet they would be easy to resist, if the debate were fixed upon the real question which ought to influence oar policy. That question inevitably is, whether Southern independence, on the one hand, or Southern subjugation on the other, would most tend to the advantage and improve ment of the black race inhabiting America. But this, gen tlemen, is not the issue to which your opponents are in the habit of attending. It is the single issue which they never venture even to approach. And no wonder, for there can not be a doubt as to the answer; and that answer would be fatal to their purpose. We are not left to speculation and conjecture as to the influence of Northern conquest on the prospects of the negro. This day a letter from New York has been published, in a well-known journal, which reached Manchester some hours ago, and throws the greatest light upon this subject. It points out the situation of the negro in the States which Northern armies have invaded, Some are compelled to fight in a cause which they despise, and for a people who despise there. Some roam in the North- Western States for occupation, whicheludes them. Some are dying in crowds at Washington, of an epidemic they have brought there. Some are toiling on estates which Northern violence has occupied, under a servitude more galling than that from which they have been wrested. But all tends to the extermination of th!s unhappy race, before those who are here thought to aim at its deliverance. Can we be astonished at it? Is it to be imagined that emancipation san succeed which is not framed for the advantage of the negro, but the destruction of the planter? (Cheers.) Is it imagined that emancipa tion can succeed when no convictions have preceded, when no precautions have accompanied, and no benevolence in spired it ? (Cheers.) It is usual to remark that Mr. Lin coln and his colleagues are men of limited capacity and in tellect. It may be so. But had they all the power of which the human mind is capable, they could not overrule th e laws inherent in affairs and stamped upon the universe. They could not make right a path to wrong—philanthropy, an instrument of vengeance—the liberty of one race the forge of shackles for another. Such, however, is the para doxical attempt to which they have committed themselves. (Cheers.) If, therefore, by your efforts, gentlemen, a sound impression was diffused upon this subject, if it was seen that no question is before us except as to the comparative posi tion of the negro under separation and re-conquest, and that the re-conquest of the Unioa indisputably threatens to ex terminate him, while separation paves the way for every feasible improvement in his status, the remainder of your task, I think, would be au easy one. If slavery be got out of the way, no great part of cur public can wish to see the re-establishment by fire, by sword, by spoliation, and confusion, of an arrogant and overbearing power, which, although it might cease to be based on unlimited democracy, which, although it might take its place among the despotic powers of the world, would not on that account be less aggressive and disturbing to political societies. Still less, gentlemen, does any large or influential class among us desire to assist or encourage the promotion of a Poland in America. But this is the exact result for which Mr. Lincoln and his colleagues are waging war at present. (Cheers.) Their avowed intention is to conquer the South by force, and hold it down by occupation. Their avowed design is to establish the gloom of Warsaw in all the cities which belong to it. What is the gloom of War saw ? Oa that point I can only speak from the impressions of a traveller. (Hear, hear.) It seemed to me to be a very different gloom from that which hangs on Manchester at present—arising partly from the climate, and partly from a scarcity in cotton. It was a gloom which no breeze of spring could waft away—which no berst of sunshine could light up—which no reviving industry, accelerated tree, or new supply of capital could quicken. It was the gloom essential to a proud and honourable race enthralled and governed by a foreign army of 20,000 men, of which you could not walk into the streets withoat being overshadowed by the image. It was the gloom which reigns where the inhabitants, belonging to the rich or poor, the aristocracy or people, could only go abroad in fear of an arrest, or come back to their,houses—which ought b have been sanctuaries —in fear of midnight visitation more oppressive than the snares by which their footsteps had been haunted. Such is the gloom which Mr. Lincoln hes aspired to create in all the capitals of all the States he has invaded. And will the people of Great Britain countenance his enterprise ? We cannot calculate the issue of the wax, or fate of the Confede rates • but even if they are not such as you aspire to, your labours, as it seems to me, will not be wholly unrewarded. You will have given to the Southern President support which he may not require, but whieh ho may not view as insignificant. Whoever contemplates his task and his posi tion, must regard him with emotions which the term respect would not entirely delineate. To place campaigns upon an area unprecedented in extent; to guard against attack in every possible direction ; to watch a seaboard of many , thou sand miles ; to divine the movements of an enemy whose counsels are incalculable, as his resources are unlimited, might toot the genius of Napoleon, even possessed of the full and irresponsible authority which great men are apt to claim under such circumstances. So far from having that advantage, Itr. Davis is accountable to a Senate, to a Re presentative Assembly, and has beyond that a Cabinet to manage and compose. But this is not the limit of his trials. A free press surges round niu;,, sometimes to question; soffietitties elated by secce;:s? eager to rebuke, to criticise, exag gerating losses, giving force to eYery ephetheral desire; and not unfrequently reducing or augmenting the spirit of an army Upon which the fortune of the day depends. That free press, with an incredible forbearance, he has never yet resolved to stifle or to tamper with. (Cheers.) .Is it too much to say that no man could fill his or stand in his posi tion, unless the wisdom of a ruler, :he resources of a gene ral, the temper of an angel, were in some degree united in him. (Cheers.) Come what may, gentlemen, you canna be deprived of the reflection that, in your time, according to your power, although divided from him by the ocean, you have contributed to aid one of the bravest and noblest men whom Providence has formed, in one of the loftiest and hardest enterprises with which the fortunes of the world have ever been identified. (Much applause.) After an able and interesting speech from Mr. Spence, the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to Lord Wharncliffe. THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.—Within the last day or two active measures have been taken in proceeding with that portion of the embankment which will extend from Waterloo-bridge to the east end of the Temple gar dens, and in the course of a few days the works, like those between 'Waterloo and Westminster bridges, will b 3 in active progress. The contract is being executed by Mr. Ritson. The works are somewhat difficult, in consequence of the necessity of not interfering in any way with Sower set-house, and it is understood that none of the houses either in Norfolk-street, Arundel-street, or the Temple will be removed. Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against Imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application to Messrs. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy, Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. (Aces— (established 1830),12, Hatton-garden. City branch-6, Moor gate-street, Bank.—ADVT. ADVERTISEMENT.] —Avoid medicines: they always aggra vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health. Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, invariably cures them, restorin ,, perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, ' pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, of a liver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleep! e.sness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,8.32. "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange ment, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies. —Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. Jas, T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity or the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment." In tins,l lb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; 51b., 115. ; i2lb., 225. ; 241 b 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists I:ti very town of the United Kingdom. THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. (From. the Correspondent of the Times.) NEW YORK, Jan. 22, Nothing continuos to be heard on any side, unless Wall-street be excepted, but statements of the ap proaching breakdown of the Southern Confederacy, and anticipations of the triumphant re-election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency. The two events are linked together in the imagination of those who talk of them. The one is to precede and be the cause of the other, and both are held to be equally cer tain. Perhaps they are. Mr. Lincoln, however, is not quite so sanguine as his friends upon ether head, and is taking his measures quietly and, it must be admitted, cleverly, to be re-elected, even though the South should not be conquered, and the Union should not be restored. Mr. Lincoln is well known to have a strong opponent in his Cabinet in the person of Mr. Chase, and it is now stated that the Vice-President, Mr. Hamlin, is equally decided in his objections to the renewal of Mr. Lincoln's lease of power. For this reason Mr. Hamlin has been omitted from the lists as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency, and Mr. Lincoln's friends are no minating a variety of persons for the minor office to run with their favourite, among others Governor Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, and Gen. Butler. Although these announcements are all premature, they seem to keep the President's name before the public, while he on his part works in every decently possible way for the furtherance of his own ends. He encourages and patronises the formation of Lin coln Clubs and Lincoln Union Clubs, procures his nomination by public meetings, caucuses, and conventiona ; and is over grateful to that most intensely unfeminine of " Yankee girls," Miss Anna Dickenson, for designating him, in his own presence, at a lecture in the Hall of Representatives at Washington, as indu bitably the next President. He is too skilful a practitioner, however, to rely entirely on the spon taneous action of the politicians, or to trust too much to his personal popularity, whatever its ex tent may be, for the success he covets. His pro clamatio❑ of amnesty to the Southern people and his project for the readmission of "rebellious" States into the Union were contrived for this end, and have begun to bear the fruits he expected. No one imagined that the amnesty would tempt any considerable numbers either of combatants or non combatants in the South to acknowledge the legiti. macy of the divine rule of brute force, or that a scheme for investing a tenth part of the people of any State in temporary occupa►ion by the Northern armies with the power of electing State officers could operate in any other way than as a coup d'etat in the interest of the party in office. It therefore sur prises no one that the amnesty remains a dead letter, or that the coming project of restoring the State Governments through the medium of minorities should prove to be an electioneering manoeuvre, tending to the defeat of any Presidential candidate, except Mr. Lincoln. Few can have forgotten, in the progress of events, that Mr. Lincoln was elected to the Presidency by a minority of the people, but by a majority of the States. As it is probable that in November next, especially if he be opposed by a strong and popular Democratic candidate such as General M'Ciellan, or by some more successful mili tary chieftain who may gain a brilliant victory in the interval, or even by an abler man of his own party, such as Mr. Chase, that the vote of the whole people will show a still more considerable majority against Mr. Lincoln than in ties: election of 186, it becomes of the highest important,: to him and to the multitude of placeholders whom he has appointed, and who would certainly be turned out of office by a Democratic or any other successor, that the States, as States, should be in his favour, and that as large a number of states as possible should take part in the election. General Banks has made the first movement in this direction. by virtue of his military occupancy of the city of New Orleans and a portion of the State of Louisiana, and acting under the authority of the President, he has issued a proclamation, " after consultation with some lead ing Unionists," whom he believes to express the opinions of more than one-tenth of the people, for the election of a Governor and other State officers on the 22d of February next, for the installation of such officers on the 4th of March, and for the elec tion of delegates on the first Monday of April to a convention for the revision of the State Constitu• lion, preparatory to an election of representatives and senators in Congress. Supposing that only a tenth, or even a fifth, of the people of Louisiana take part in these proceedings, and that nine-tenths or four fifths hold aloof or elect another Governor and offi cers according to the existing Constitution of the State, the purpose of Mr. Lincoln will be achieved. By the aid of Gen. Banks and the concurrence of a minority, the will of the majority will be overruled, and Louisiana will be nominally a State in the Union, and as such entitled in a certain contingency, which is very likely to happen, to cast its vote as a State for such Presidential candidate as its repre sentatives in Congress may prefer. How the charm may be made to work will be apparent from the following extract from the Federal Constitution, Art. 11., which treats of the election of the Presi dent and Vice-President. Section 1 says, " The President shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice- President, chosen for the same term, shall be elected as follows— " Each State shall appoint in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct a number of elec tors equal to the whole number of Senators and representatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress These directors shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not bo an inhabitant of the same State with them selves. And they shall make a list of all the per sons voted for and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall in the:presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President. If such number be a ma jority of the whole number of electors appointed, anti if there be more than one who have such a ma ant', have a n equal number of votes, then the jority, shall immediately choose House of Represel,'tativeB, by ballot of them for r esident ; and if no person have a majority, then from thefive highest on th e list the said House shall in like man archoose the President. But in choosing the Presin,:ntl the votes shall be taken by States, the representati;,.." from each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice." Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Se ward, and all the prominent members of their party who desire Mr. Lincoln's re election have long foreseen the probability that there will be a multiplicity of candidates ; that no one of them will secure the absolute numerical majority, and that the decision will therefore devolve upon the House of Representatives. With this contingency in view, it is of the highest importance to Mr. Lin coln that Louisiana should be represented in Con gress in November next, and not only Louisiana, but Texas, and, if possible, the two Carolinas and every other Southern State in which his armies have any kind of foothold, or in which one-tenth of the population may be induced to declare their loyalty, even though such tenth may be more than half composed of the camp followers and sutlers of the army of occupation and the freed negroes who have taken refuge within its lines. The alarm has already been sounded. The Democratic press is beginning to perceive, though slowly, the tendency and working of the project, and its inevitable re sults in the overthrow of the State Constitutions, first in the South, to be afterwards followed up in the North ; but it has remained for a Republican publicist, the Rev. 1)r. Orestes Brownson, of the Quarterly Review, to denounce its unconstitu tionality in a manner befitting the occasion, and with arguments as clear and dignified as they are irrefutable. " Every feature of the plan," says this gentleman, none of whose sympathies are with the South, and who is known an a consistent opponent both of slavery and the right of secession," is marked by what seems to us an extraordinary assump tion of power on the part of the Executive, The President prescribes the oath, prescribes on what conditions the States in rebellion may re organise State Governments, and be recognised and represented in Congress as loyal States in the Union. Any one of them with not less than one-tenth of the number of persons who voted in the Presidential election of 1860 may reorganise themselves as the State, and have the full Federal representation in Congress to which the State under the census of 1860 was entitled ! Why, the President could easily, by the distribution of Fede ral offices end patronage in any seceded State, unless there are fewer Union men than is pretended, induce at least one in ten, if assured of Federal protection, to swallow without scruple the prescribed oath or any number of oaths he might prescribe, and elect State and Federal officers whom he may choose to prescribe. With the Federal representa tion of 11 States, who would be his nominees and creatures, and the number from the other States he could always command by the distribution of the patronage of the Government, the Executive could easily grasp for himself the whole power of the Union, reign as an absolute Prince, perpetuate by re-elections his reign during life, and reduce the functions of Congress to that of simply registering his edicts ; or, if it should now and then show a disposition to demur, he could, after the manner of Louis XIV., hold lit de justice." This question promises to be the question of the day, until the renewal of hostilities in Virginia and Tennessee shall divert attention into a channel more to the taste and the understanding of the masses. The Democratic party is in want of a good griev ance, and, if it be wise, it will make the most of the chance which Mr. Lincoln, for his own ambitious purposes, has so opportunely afforded it. Of late, since the conscription has ceased to alarm the working classes, and the arbitrary arrests have been carried on with something like a show of decency, the le'aders of that party have not dis played muoh skill in their opposition. They have for the most part contented themselves with vague denunciations of the conduct of the war, and, though disapproving of the war itself, have for ultra-prudential, if not cowardly reasons, forborne to declare themselves in favour of peace. Governor Seymour, their most conspicuous and in some re spects their ablest representative, has thus led him self and the party into a false position. Courage in boldly declaring what most of them believe to be the truth, that a voluntarly Union cannot be restored by war, and that popular liberty both in the North and the South is necessarily doomed to extinction by the triumph of the Northern arms, might yet extricate them from humiliation and place them on a logical level with their opponents. There is a peace party in the country which might become an army, but is now a mob for want of leaders, and which only awaits the coming of a few fearless statesmen, or even of one, to grow into a phalanx, and debate before the day of nomination of the next Presidential candidates the one great issue of peace or war, liberty or despotism. NJ such man of high mark and paramount influence has yet appeared. One by one those whose abilities and known sym pathies gave reason for the belief that they might become the chiefs of the peace movement have fal sified the hopes inspired by their names and charac ter and slunk into the rear, either to say nothing or to raise a hesitating voice in favour of the war, which in their hearts they condemn, and of the ab solutism which will grow out of it. The explana tion seems to be not so much that they fear the ,:ction of the Federal Government and the operation o f mi ;:!ary law which might consign them to Forts Lafayette, ~sut that they lack faith in their country men. They do ne't believe in a following sufficiently powerful to warrant them in running any risk. And, more than this, they do not believe in the sta bility of the Union of the Northern States if the principle of secession be established. While the Southern States are convinced that they can hold together under the terms of the new Urat2. l into which they have entered, the Northern States, in the opinion of such men as the Governors of New York and the New Jersey, must infallibly fall asunder and go to war amongst themselves, as soon as the independence of the South is admitted. " The policy of peace and recognition of the South, which the peace party recommend," says Governor Parker, of New Jersey, "however sincerely entertained, would certainly result in perpetual disunion, and we should emerge from the present war only to be involved in other conflicts not less bloody, which would inevitably " flow from separation." The yet unconquered and, perhaps, unconquerable South has no such misgiv ings of its own future. Why should the strong North, already accustomed to a despotism, have less confidence. ? And why should such ardent lovers of liberty as the Democrats have so little reliance upon the good sense and patriotism of the people as to imagine they would ultimately prefer an immense debt, an immense taxation, an immense standing army, a military Dictator, and compul sory union with a population that has learnt to hate them, to an amicable separation, combined, as that might be, with the restoration of the fast perishing liberties of the Republic ? War affords no career to such men ; but what a career might not peace open out to them ? Peace must come sooner or later, as Mr. Lincoln acknowledged in the early days when he had not tasted the blood of his countrymen, and with it will come a chance for true statesmanship to build up in the North and West a greater and more homogeneous Republic than the United States could ever have become in partnership with the unwilling South. It is announced to-day in Wall -street that the last instalment of the Five-twenty Loan has been taken up, and that the five hundred millions of greenbacks which were invested in the purchase are again in circulation. A doubt is expressed whether the Government will undertake to ask for or accept a new loan, on condition that the interest be paid in gold, but few have any doubt that, sooner or later, Mr. Chase must again become a borrower, even if ho can offer no better terms than the pay ment of the interest in greenbacks. The uneasiness felt by the higher order of financiers upon the sub ject does not extend to the smaller fry of specula tors, intent on taking advantage of tho speculative mania of the day, and to gamble in stocks of any description that promises a rise. These people do not see, or care to see, far before them. Sufficient for them to make money out of their own madness and that of the crowd, and to make it quickly, lest the madness should subside. There are others, however, —and Mr. Chase himself cannot but be of the num ber,—who look upon the financial future with well founded alarm. The taxes are but half paid in, and -e they as fully collected as they would have been we._ in any ue euntr . y where taxation was not a new and esper, Lnent, would not have yielded withi n untried e sums estimated, while the 50 per cent. of tne nt have largely exceed e d go ex penses of the GovernmeT time continues the calculations, At the same to flow out of the count r y to pay or European goods, while but small shipments of American produce continuo to bo called for in that g :eater outer world which Northern Americans once iraa gined must starve if America were cruel enough to refuse to feed it, Perhaps for some only of these reasons—perhaps for all of them—gold persists in maintaining itself at what Mr. Chase considers a ignorant premium. P oss ibl y b e f ore disloyal and i long a light will break in upon the minds of many who still cling to the delusion that an inconvertible paper currency is positive wealth, that a promise to pay is a real payment, and that the Federal Go vernment can continue its present expenditure with out marching into bankruptcy. The following is an extract from the Second Edition (page 188) of the Trans:ation of the Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of London, by Dr. G. F. Collier, published by Longman and Co. :—" It is no small defect in this compilation (speaking of the Pharmacopoeia) that we have no purgative mass but what contains Aloes ; yet we know that hemo rr h o id a l p ersons cann ot bear aloes, except it be in the form of Cockle's Pills, which chiefly consist of aloes, scammony, and colocynth, which I think arefortned into a sort of compound ex t r act, the acridity of which is obviated, I suspect, by an alkaline process,. and by a fourth ingredient (unknown to me) of an aromatic tonic nature. I thi n k no b e tt er a nd no worse of it for its being a patent medicine. I look at it as an article of commerce and domesti c conven i ence , and do not hesitate to sa y , it is the best m a d e pill in the kingdom ; 9, musc ular purge, .a mucous purge, and hydrogue purge combined, and their effects p ro p er l y con t ro ll ed b y a di r igent and cogent. That it does n o t commonly pr o duce bwinorrhoids like most aloetic Bills I attribute to its being thoroughly soluble, so that no undissolved particles adhere to the mucous mem brane; .a 0....-.-...............,„,...,... ..... fi BELLIGERENTS nIy.TRA-Lo. AND_ The Juridical Society held a meeting ou Monday .pen, ing to hear a paper read by Mr. C. Clark, on 11 ° Frill % pies that ought mutually to govern the Con( luct of Neutral and Belligerents," Mr. Best, out) of the vice-presideutse,t 1 the chair. Mr. Clark said it did' not appear that get: de 3 . principles had been very attentively consida red in ti l d ' ire tat seevoilf astoip; tided cases, in which there was rather to be i° ll9 ' d : v e.° by to deal with the particular case, accompanied ' P ,,, e , r , -- L i e.oll a fear of what might be the future result of an) ' right,declaration the i of principles. Besides this, if the decision was ; c s remarks which accompanied it, and which. werei to t a `` . , er ,, to be treated as dicta delivered obiter, came, jar x "ict ol ; o.lt o t often to be considered as expressing rules of law. . 1 ' %., ' to be distinefly stated that in all such mu tters the first .1:111_,, ciple, that which ought to govern the application c; others, was that of good faith. The neutral had a trade Peri right to trade with every nation that was willing to the with him. The right was only subject, in principle, t°',_! restriction of not doing anythiag which interfered with the aded periy and besieged d fo p r o t r b t, a e t ven necessities of actual warfare. going, therefore, to a bloc K might w i t e I : l e . o such restriction il tive act of warfare. But there was n reference to a whole coast which nev.'r " aid PrePeri Tt ri : an `l each a b10.c0:,.. declared to be in a state of blockade, n ett w i: its a ver would have been permitted but that 3,161 l e act. sad a turn hoped to profit by such an unjaqtalii practice of allowing such general blockades, ordinary goods, was pro: Aide the result of a p i :7. wrong in itself, had led to others. Such were the. ping and searching vessels on the high seas, and, latterly, offthe offensive and insulting practice of armed vesselb '66 the ports of a neutral, and atopping merchant est> coming out of them. Then, .again, there were i Jl ,' consistencies in existing practices. Thus, enemies, the wet.e seized on board of neutral ships, b ut t .r freight was paid to the neutral. On what prinoiP The offence, if any, was trading. The truth was that the, e e r modification was introduced from the fear of joa kil3s - 1 all neutrals in; practice too monstrous, and so converting opponents. td The rule of former times was to allow g erier ,,j a l: e, the exception was trade in contraband. fie denonit('-d nothing short of piracy an imitation of the reasoniogaar practices sel of the buccaneers, the burning of merchant le o Not le ts convenience swithout bringing them in for adjudication. or for or advantage, either for the naval corcuvai/ he bore, the service of the Government wh , se ceraraissi°ll t o 0 pot II could justify such a proceeding. The havin .'t. illg °IC nor courts was not a a p remount necessity justify IA. acts. While thus condemning the practice he was n ° dto aware of the fact that President had sitSleBten Pis for English officer, who related it in Davis'his travelstq f allowing rpreventing for ever such an evil—namelYt thiao-oOrt and to the captor to bring his prizes into any ne li up on them ask T for the adjudication of the neutral court.iee :scheme was one which haste and P rejli t ien. might at onto condemn, but which deserved cottsidera Bidet and if the great maritime nations would serioust9 00 ( 11 01 it, and w tch thought fit to adopt it, there might be rui e 9 j e li air men said would insure it a beneficial operation. Ti le V o il o si. propositions in the paper deserved seriottsdigo deration, and as it was too late in the evening t° pf d them, ' suggested an adjournment. Mr. Westlake too vp . adjournment, which, being carried, the meeting 13(011 e COUNTRY MARKETS• HULL—TUESDAY. I, tt lo At this day's market the show of English w.-e,,boicil moderate, and sold readily,at fully last week's rates ; ' oo ,el samples brought is per qr advance. Fine ola lt d,;l 3 c r ! rather dearer, with a good demand, but cosilooll w ge vi a ' tions, as welt as grinding, rather neglected. ° s° D t so s ther more inquired atter, and difficult to bi l Y* OJ requesi. Peas a slow sale. 44s A IV he a t . . . . NEO English li w rs h iehat maltinge .. i ;per „ q r 4254 0s 0 0 ci d to 0 ° '-i l / 0 : ° O; Old red • • New white . '' 4ls Od t e ` 5$ !):, . ~ ....... 3ss od to . u.. Barley.... Grinding 00d d t t o o :. , i 3 : 0 6 a cl n c i, to o' Od Saal and Oderbruck Holstein and Danish 3os 04 t 310 0 a Grinding ~ ' , od t o b ' io l Oats English, old Archangel and Riga per st.. 3 Frieslan and Dutch ' ........ 20°2sss1321„cito°°A.I.44 Swedish and Danish ........ 002 - to 4 3 $ - ccl Beans ....English, old, per qr......... 40s oo 0 4 , 1 s d 42 5 o cl t 4 .2 s ° A New pigeon New tick. 4333 0 02, . s ss s o ° l , 5616 a i tttt t 0: : ... . . . L 3, 3 3 i : 3 4 3 51 00 6 0 0 daci ci Egyptian Peas Foreign boilers ... Grinding Tares .... Spring. --s Od 11) 345 e a Indian Corn Linseed, feeding s2s 52 5 0 Os ° J t° 0 0 crushinn , .. ..... to A Linseed cakes (11111) £ 9 5 0 9 u 0 Foreign' Bl5 ot o 0 0 0 Rape cakes 5 10 ot° 5 1° Bones MELTON MOWBRAY—TuEsvicf. ,j2eAt, bite r o; The following were the currencies :—Ne v( I/ 36 stop 42s Od to 46s Od ; new red, 38s Od to 425 pf,er ° i . e; beans, 37s to 41s for old ; new sorts, 34s to 31 6 ,,.r e - r 2 - 63 ha:ley, 34s to 3Gs for malting, and 26s toga s 01 0 - grina,tug; new oats, lbs to 22s Od 24 ll" per to 28s. • • 10 LYNN—TuoanAT. be at, o re At to-day's market there was a fair sltos v° l , f ,: ls'oe m mot a pretty good sale, b lud the prices' O f ^— jo 4t , advanced from Is to 2s per 3 65 ' White MA.. 39s to 44s (Grinding.....° ' ?. .00 , A / 0 feana .33s to 35s I Oats.. ........ .' r .. 0 " New 35s to 37s I Peas .......... . Foreign Mail Packet List MAILS DUE. fel , ' c 5, Australia and Mauritius, via Southaropten....' ' :yd. 5 ' .3raeil and Cape Verds, byviaßlr'litairssheipliacect:ti. ''''''''' :Ve131) : I S ; C Gt C: a h ib l i i k u r e al a o al , tn f t l td Ci r )e , o l n s o v i l t d it ng li , ° L e d ' ' Si s n e g en ap si o o r n e; viaand ~.oti:ittliternie'llat''°.ilyi'el: I';' -- a md S s outham ton i v a . i. ; . !•: 4 1 ' t 'ar ' i l',1 5: : :ill p : : :11 4011 11 1 : : India (Calcutta), and Co p ylon,..v India (Bomb7y), via Southamiv)tioll2.l.f.c.i '' i • e .. '' " ' i,l 'el i : via Marseilles ............. .fe -1). Portuga 1.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via ton.Southamp .... F eb. " q.. via Marseilles ...... '' . l" Newfoundland .............. . 11. Oporto and Vigo ..................... .....veb. C. S. and British N. America, by Brit. Pae l ',f t j.. b, 5' by U.S. plies -,enege.t..V,ol,. JO. F SV ia . h C a . m ef as A , f l r i ie t a x ,:iS w la y de o i r r k a, ....... ...................................................f lee ; ' 2 , 19 :: Mexico.. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, V er- ' ) California. and British Columbia. ......... 01 --------- ------------'-": sil°r _ et a- FIRE IN THE CITY.—A fire broke ' 9 th e occ to after 6 o'clock last evening in premises toden°:o pation of Messrs. Hayward, Nichol ls and C°':o 6 11 ,. e f and spice merchants. The building , which - 0 bloo ve high, stood in Turnwhoel-lane, at the back o' lit God e t i; newly-erected shops in Cannon-street. Serg 6 : s ia, oc er il t 0 of the City Police, in passing, noticed s moke 'boa tad roof of Messrs. Hayward's premises, and at firs_ f t oas o tis . chimney had taken fire, but a loud crackling of 0:330. the names which appeared in the upper iloors. c bo at „. 0 0 1 fled him that the building was on fire, and Wit ve , •'' :at' rnent's delay he sent off for the engines and 1 3 e: tl e s i 0 0 Watling-street the land steamer and several ma' a son tir , engines attended, under the direc tion of Foref t. : o tll l5 ,%r$ and J. Jerrard. The telegraph was worked t hey s tea' i y, tion to every other depot in town, and three ol'uitipeollsoo and several manual engines came up almost same wer e 4 of The steamers Torrent and Princess of Il r ' sr oocir", of early in attendance, as well as that of CuPt eiu .. a o uPP'' t ip Lambeth, and his volunteer brigade. A e opio; co recti ote r the New River Company's water having beg' 13 _, a o f W ho t engines were all set to work. From sto 6 W - P - P ildiog'. 6 v ut , per miLute were scattered upon and into the . D e u i, las t el . ro the fire was not entirely extinguished at 9 n'el ° llo pre! . a il although no further damage was expected... c , as pei l ,j, in which the fire commenced may be describ...°oo. ouita but burnt out. The roof of the premises of T ao o pp : r , hale and Co., and the fronts of the houses orrooding'sers, side of the thoroughfare, as well as mal'Y sil o r• tl' e ' also severely damaged, either by fire or their otocict_of Hayward had removed a great portion of s consectue''...o house being required for the railway terrainu.... the tire A the loss is lighter than it would have been 11 ---- -1 occurred a few days sooner . ------- ---- - Births. , -sitalci°l'' NE ._on te 2d int, at Debden gall, 530017011, LA 0' the wife of h Captain s Douglas Lane, late of t' taitetlt cers, of a son. CedarS , 00 SHARPE.—On the I st ins t., at The Old Cil 1 0,8 Kent, Mrs. Sharpe, of a son. TE zNANT.—On the 2d inst., at f T daug hter. he Glen, . e e of Vharles Tennant, Esti, o a Marriages. to to at gar),l to BARIVIRDISTON--.TISE,—On the 3d inst., J.t.i. ;lig, Church, Commando; Thomas 13arnardisVi'ries S LE l f e cti n i Te licence, s ly . l Lucy Mary, eldest dai,ighter of Cliptiliil R.N., A.D.C, -sPec ial ult., 11 ld'il a ' Leighton, Esq., to the Hon. kllNeae eßteErN"';7l°atipel, .11e Deaths. Ott loatot E . LP:will° unoL.—On thP 2Sth ult., at Rosiere, _,,, 7 7, Gr ey , ,teavg.edr.6o9.ibson, p 3)., aged 71, Et H h a lg r i. riet, Countess Dowagcr of E'rlCllt,ilag:::. 1 3f‘ . t -... 1 4 01 11 GREY.—On the Ist inst., at St. John's-Wo°', Bet"a ''' GIBSON.-- On the 2d inst. at tho Itectory, HEwErr.—On the 2,1 inst., at Le a ' 9 11, - ero Hewett, of the Royal Library, aged b.l. John K sq aar e f EY.—On the 3d inst., at 33, Eaten - or ia.. ntilorerL'tteeleir War r'''' Esq., aged 61. 14/ LACON.—On the Ist inst., henry Lacem , a deolif park-street, aged 72 very su • halo , 'y e RAyNHAm.—On the ',(l. inst., at ClaP A Mr. Richard Raynhain, aged 7 0 . --- ~; - , A., --------NVl‘` JO, ____---------c;;;4ofi A So. ii i London: Prin:,,ql and Put.:lshedn.) i.,f:: sis Oilleasoli of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 'ti i :"__., in the : 1t05q11..7 I°ll° Strand, al the l'recinct of the !3,:"176,34. Mildivacx.—'llArsday, FelguarY * THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1864. !s't`~